Is Wladimir Klitschko a top ten ATG heavyweight?

[The Hammer]

His career is over or nearly over now.

What is your opinion? Yes or no?

[Raonic]

Nah but he's close to it.

[dan_cov]

Yes he is.

Definitely top 10.

[Mighty_Windir]

From Boxrec:

"Klitschko held the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles longer than any other fighter in history, and he is the second longest-reigning heavyweight champion of all-time. Klitschko's reign of nine years, seven months and seven days is second only to the reign of Joe Louis, who was champion for 11 years, eight months and eight days."

"Klitschko successfully defended the WBO and IBF heavyweight titles more than any other fighter: he defended the WBO title 19 times (five during his first reign and 14 during his second reign) and the IBF title 18 times. Only Joe Louis (25 defenses) and Larry Holmes (20 defenses) have made more".

Without a doubt, he is an ATG

[just the facts]

IMO, pretty hard to say he isn't

[Raonic]

I think he's in that 8-12 range so I can see both sides of the argument.

[i love boxing]

ali
lennox lewis
joe louis
jack johnson
george foreman
evander holyfield
Joe Frazier
Larry Holmes
Marciano
Tyson???

He is close but it is just an opinion

[dan_cov]

ali
lennox lewis
joe louis
jack johnson
george foreman
evander holyfield
Joe Frazier
Larry Holmes
Marciano
Tyson???

He is close but it is just an opinion

Tyson? Frazier? Johnson?

[Marchegiano]

He never beat anyone then crumbled at the first sign of talent, rebuilt himself, and crumbled again.

Wlad's resume doesn't hold up, and all anyone ever talks about is the longevity of his reign over the era of elderly, overweight, and/or undersized HWs.

I mean let's be real, the dude was fighting back when Ike Ibeabuchi was relevant and David Haye is about the best name on his resume. He got knocked out by guys who were considered bums, then reigned over an era where top tens were worse than the bums who knocked him out and now that we're just getting back to the quality fighters that are about par with the bums that knocked him out in the top tens he can't get a W.

Dude wouldn't even be a topic in any other era. All he did was bridge the gap between times when guys who are active HWs kinda look like Mike Tyson if they were less ****. AJ's a lesser Mike just like Tua was a lesser Mike...he didn't do well in either era, just the ****ty one in between with names like ****ing Mormeck.

[dan_cov]

He beat Peter, Haye, Povetkin, Chagaev at their peak. Chris Byrd.
What other HW fought that many undefeated opponents?
He also has very good wins over Brewster, Pulev, Thompson, Ibragimov, Mercer.

41 and still putting in that performance last night vs the elite of this era, his third era! that's greatness.

Everything about him is underrated from his chin to his resume and his heart especially.
Nothing but a class act all round.

Tysons resume, accomplishments and resume doesn't come close. Frazier just a stylistic nightmare for Ali, painfully limited in every sense with a paper thin resume but nobody seems quick to mention that? Overrated too high heaven because of the Ali fights.

Mormeck was a terrible opponent so was Pianeta among others but - they aren't a top 10 win for wlad they would be for a fair few others apparently ranked above Wlad. Look at their title reigns - littered with fighters much worse than a Mormeck.